Ivor Gurney Poem by Francis Duggan

The great poet from Gloucester Ivor Gurney he did not live for to be old and gray
He died aged forty seven in a Dartford mental hospital his memory prematurely in decay
He had fought in war knew a brief spell of glory but the literary biographers recall
That he was one who suffered for his genius and his life was sad and tragic overall.

The poems of Ivor gurney are still living though the one who gave them life long dead and gone
He was one of the best known of the war poets and his name in his verses living on
Through his short life he battled mental illness and lady luck from him seemed far away
He may have known fame but he did not enjoy it and for his fame the price too big to pay.

His death it has been said due to consumption he was one who had suffered so much pain
The poor poet did not see his fiftieth birthday but the verses he gave life to still remain
But that of little use to Ivor Gurney the famous dead do not know of their fame
And fame of value only to the living for fame can add huge sums of money to your name.

One of the best known of the World War 1 poets poor Ivor Gurney died in poverty
The verses he gave life to are still living and will live on for an eternity
He hailed from Gloucester in the South of England and he did not live on for to grow old
But he was quite an honourable fellow and his story deserves for to be told.